[Top 15] Grand Theft Auto 5 Best Mods for Realism (2021)

Updated:

17 Jul 2021

GTA V's best mods for realistic gameplay.

Released in 2013, Grand Theft Auto V remains one of the top-selling games of all time. Often praised for its stunning visuals, meticulous attention to detail, and massive open world, GTA V also pushed the limits of the seventh generation consoles’ hardware, and despite being one of the eighth generation’s oldest games, still stands among the most impressive games out there. This doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s no room for improvement, though. Below are the best GTA V mods for realism, for when your gaming experience just isn’t realistic enough.

15. Dynamic Hair Growth

Various hairstyles are available for all three playable characters in GTA V, and go long enough without a haircut or a shave and you will notice hair growth. This growth happens at a very slow pace, however, and that’s what this mod is for.

Why Dynamic Hair Growth is fun:

Cosmetic upgrade for characters
Hair growth system is likened to that of Red Dead Redemption 2

14. Euphoria Ragdoll Overhaul

Ragdoll physics is how video games animate deaths — as in how a character’s body moves in relation to their environment when they die or get injured. This mod improves ragdoll physics in GTA V, so check it out if you’re sick of seeing Michael literally bend over backwards and dislocate approximately 3 joints after merely taking a fall.

Why Euphoria Ragdoll Overhaul is fun:

There’s still much to be desired regarding GTA V’s ragdoll physics, so this is a fix for that
Deaths and accidents are very common in the game, and this mod allows for much more realistic movement for when a character gets in an accident in the way their body reacts to the environment
How characters’ bodies drop and how their limbs move is significantly improved

13. Advanced Fuel Mod

You want realism, sometimes it means adding something that kind of slows down your gaming experience (I’m looking at you, Red Dead Redemption 2). In Grand Theft Auto V, cars technically have infinite fuel, so you never have to worry about your tank getting empty for those long rides from Los Santos to Grapeseed. This mod changes that, and allows for a more realistic driving experience, where you run out of fuel and occasionally have to stop for gas. Yep, you wanted realism, you got it.

Why Advanced Fuel Mod is fun:

For those ticked off by cars in the game having unlimited fuel, this mod is for you
Having to stop for gas when you’re just casually exploring the state of San Andreas makes your gaming experience a lot more casual
Perfect for when you’re not in the mood to wreak havoc in the game and just wanna go for a drive, act like a law-abiding citizen and follow traffic rules (we’ve all done that!)

12. Premium Deluxe Motorsport

You can drive and own all kinds of vehicles in GTA V, and may procure them via grand theft auto (heh) or buy them with your in-game money. However, vehicles in the game can only be bought via the in-game website with a phone or a computer. The Premium Deluxe Motorsport mod levels up your purchasing experience.

Why Premium Deluxe Motorsport is fun:

Provides another way of buying vehicles other than with your in-game phone or computer
Access the dealership in the game, interact with the receptionist and purchase a vehicle of your choosing
Adds vehicles not present in the base game

11. Better Chases+

With this mod, the way police respond to your character just got a whole lot better. It’s nearly impossible to freeroam in the game and resist the urge to run over a couple peds or maybe knock someone wearing a cap out so you can see their headwear fly off their head, so people who enjoy trying to outrun the police will definitely enjoy this mod.

Why Better Chases+ is fun:

Adds a police identification system, improving the game’s “Wanted” feature
Police response is more appropriate to crimes committed
Refined police AI in pursuing the wanted character i.e. if you successfully evade the police, being spotted by one of the boys in blue can result in them recognizing you and reinstating your wanted level

10. Realistic Gun Sounds

Violence and guns are an integral part of any GTA game. In GTA V, however, the sounds firearms produce seem lackluster. This modification provides refined weapon sounds like gunshots and explosions.

Why Realistic Gun Sounds is fun:

More realistic gunshots and explosions
So realistic that you can actually hear these sounds echo
Pray none of your next door neighbours get the wrong idea and call the cops

9. Improvements in Gore

Speaking of guns and violence, this mod, unlike the previous one, is a visual improvement in the game instead of an auditory one. It’s bad enough you’re going to be shooting a whole lot of people in the game, so why not go the extra mile and make it more disturbing?

Why Improvements in Gore is fun:

Blood splatters look a lot better
Gunshot wounds look like actual damaged flesh instead of just specks of red

8. Realistic Car Damage with Better Deformation Mod

This is a game where damaging and crashing your car is as common as driving itself. This mod is for all those car rides when you’re trying to chase Michael’s stolen boat or when you’re simply trying to get Franklin’s driving stat up by driving against the flow of traffic.

Why Better Deformation Mod is fun:

Improved vehicle durability
Car damage and deformation is more realistic, slight car bumps have little to no effect, while hard crashes show more graphic damage
Vehicle scratches look better

7. World of Variety

Apart from its main and side missions, Grand Theft Auto V also has various random events in the game like a mugging in an alley or a hitchhiker you can sacrifice to a cult. If that’s still not enough for you, you can spice your gameplay up even further with this mod.

Why World of Variety is fun:

Adds new vehicles to traffic
Pedestrians are more engaging and varied
More scenarios for the player to witness
Provides a lot of variety in different aspects of the game like the way gang members dress or police officers arresting NPCs for a more immersive experience

6. Realistic Top Speed and Acceleration Mod

A lot of the cars in Grand Theft Auto V actually drive really slow even at full speed, and this mod is a fix for that.

Why Realistic Top Speed and Acceleration is fun:

Cars from sedans to supercars are a whole lot faster
Minimalist speedometer so you can see how fast you’re going
It probably doesn’t get any more fun than really, REALLY fast cars

5. Open All Interiors

Grand Theft Auto V has no shortage of places to explore, from cityscapes to forests to deserts. Nonetheless, this mod adds to all of that by getting several buildings all over the map to have accessible interiors.

Why Open All Interiors is fun:
Provides more flavor to your exploration, adding functional doors to buildings previously inaccessible
Different interiors range from high-end residential units in Vinewood Hills to a nightclub in the city proper, so there’s a lot of variety

4. Basic Needs

The playable characters of GTA V may all sleep, eat, or drink, but none of that is actually necessary to progress in the game. This mod changes that, and greatly humanizes your characters. They need all that rest and energy after all the shooting, driving, and running they do, anyway.

Why Basic Needs is fun:

Gauges for hunger, sleep, and fun are added
Consuming food or drink isn’t just for health anymore, but to fill the gauge
Adds food choices like an accessible refrigerator in your home

3. Real Paramedics Mod

Paramedics were actually useful in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, wherein they actually revived injured pedestrians in the city. Such is not the case in Grand Theft Auto V, and while paramedics can be called via the emergency number on your phone, they don’t actually do anything to mend the injuries of wounded NPCs.

Why Real Paramedics is fun:

Paramedics are made to actually serve a purpose in the game
Pedestrians are revived in the game when killed

2. LA Revo 2.0

The mod likens Los Santos’ in-game details more into its real life equivalent, the bustling city of Los Angeles. There are a lot of stores & establishments in the game that are inaccessible, and brands & advertising in GTA V are often just puns (haha gruppe sechs) and parodies of American consumerism. This mod takes all that and replaces it with real life stores and brands, and while the modded version of the stores & establishments are still inaccessible, it adds a nice environmental touch.

Why LA Revo 2.0 is fun:

Places real-life brands/franchises into the in-game establishments, signs, and billboards (i.e. Simeon’s car dealership is replaced with a Toyota dealership)
Adds a touch of real life by imitating the Los Angeles cityscape
If you’ve never been to LA, it’s almost like a virtual video game tour

1. Natural Vision Evolved

Of course, a list of realism mods just isn’t complete without a graphics upgrade mod. NaturalVision Evolved works extremely well with ray tracing, and introduces changes to the game’s lighting, reflections, ambient colours, textures, etc. It turns the base GTA V game into something that looks like it’s a game about to be released in the future.

Why NaturalVision Evolved is fun:

It’s arguably the best graphic update you could give the game
Builds on GTA V’s already impressive visual setpiece, making the game almost lifelike
The way the light bounces off puddles, windows, and cars provide a whole new experience from the base game